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Gyms in Gwynedd

Eleven Byw'n Iach leisure centres, North Wales's only 5 m diving platform and its largest indoor climbing centre, with Eryri on the doorstep. Here's where to train in Gwynedd and who to train with.

Gyms and venues
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Towns and villages in Gwynedd

From the university city of Bangor to the lakeside town of Bala.

Training in Gwynedd

Pools in most towns, a climbing scene and the mountains all around.

Gwynedd had around 117,400 residents at Census 2021, down 3.7% since 2011, and a median age of 45. More than six in ten speak Welsh (64.4% of those aged three and over), and Bangor University has more than 10,000 students: 7.3% of the county's residents are aged 20 to 24.

Byw'n Iach, a company controlled by Gwynedd Council, runs 11 leisure centres from Bangor to Tywyn. Byw'n Iach Bangor has two pools and the only 5 m diving platform in North Wales, Arfon in Caernarfon has a 25 m pool and is an official HYROX training centre, and there are 25 m pools in Pwllheli, Porthmadog and Blaenau Ffestiniog too. Around them sit Canolfan Brailsford at the university, strength gyms in Bangor, grappling and MMA clubs, and Beacon, the largest indoor climbing centre in North Wales.

Then there's the outdoors: Yr Wyddfa, Llyn Padarn and Llyn Tegid, and old railway lines turned into traffic-free paths. Whether you swim in Pwllheli or scramble above Bethesda, training is easier with the right company. Gymist is how you find them.

Where to train in Gwynedd

The Byw'n Iach centres first, then the university and city gyms, climbing and outdoor centres, and combat clubs.

Leisure centres (Byw'n Iach)

University, chain and strength gyms

Climbing and outdoor centres

Combat and martial arts

Find a training buddy in Gwynedd

A lane partner at Byw'n Iach Arfon, someone to share the platform at Bangor Barbell, a belay partner at Beacon, company on the Mawddach Trail: find people nearby who train when you do.

Find a buddy

Start a Gwynedd training group

A Saturday crew for Penrhyn parkrun, a summer swimming group at Llyn Padarn, a weekend ride down Lôn Eifion, a HYROX squad in Caernarfon: set it up in minutes and we'll help locals find it.

Start a group

Train outdoors

Free places to train in Gwynedd.

  • Yr Wyddfaat 1,085 m the highest mountain in Wales, at the heart of Eryri.
  • Llyn Padarnabout 3.2 km long beside Llanberis, a designated bathing water since 2014, with kayaking, rowing and sailing allowed.
  • Llyn TegidBala Lake, the largest natural body of water in Wales, almost 6 km long.
  • Lôn Eifion20 km of traffic-free cycle path from Caernarfon to Bryncir, on the old Carnarvonshire Railway, part of Lôn Las Cymru.
  • Mawddach Trailabout 8 miles of old railway from Dolgellau to Morfa Mawddach, by Barmouth bridge, for walkers and cyclists.
  • Lôn Las Ogwen17.7 km from Porth Penrhyn to Llyn Ogwen, climbing about 210 m after Tregarth.

Getting around

Rail, coach and cycle routes to Gwynedd's gyms.

Rail

  • Bangor station, on the North Wales Coast line, is the busiest in North Wales
  • the Cambrian Coast line runs down the coast to Pwllheli

Bus and coach

  • Bangor station has a bus interchange for north-west Gwynedd and Anglesey
  • TrawsCymru T2 links Bangor with Aberystwyth

Cycle

  • Lôn Las Cymru, National Cycle Route 8, passes Porthmadog, Penygroes, Caernarfon and Bangor
  • Lôn Eifion is traffic-free from Caernarfon to Bryncir

Who trains here

What the census and Sport Wales say about the people you'll meet in the pool, on the wall and on the hill.

  • 45Median ageUp from 42 in 2011, with 21.0% of residents aged 50 to 64, so there are training partners here in every age group.Census 2021
  • 7.3%Aged 20 to 24With Bangor University's students, that is well above Anglesey (4.4%) and Conwy (4.3%).Census 2021
  • 39.6%Pupils active three or more times a weekGwynedd's school pupils in years 3 to 11 took part in sport three or more times a week, just above the Wales figure of 39.5%.School Sport Survey 2022, Sport Wales

Gwynedd gym questions

What people ask before they train here.

How many gyms are there in Gwynedd?

Gymist lists 300 gyms, leisure centres, pools, climbing walls, outdoor centres and sports venues across Gwynedd, from the Byw'n Iach centres and Canolfan Brailsford to strength gyms, fight gyms and mountain guides.

Which leisure centres are in Gwynedd, and who runs them?

Byw'n Iach, a company limited by guarantee under Gwynedd Council's control, runs 11 leisure centres for the council: Arfon in Caernarfon, Bangor, Bro Dysynni in Tywyn, Bro Ffestiniog, Dwyfor in Pwllheli, Glan Wnion in Dolgellau, Glaslyn in Porthmadog, Pafiliwn in Barmouth, Penllyn in Bala, Plas Ffrancon in Bethesda and Plas Silyn in Penygroes. Bangor University's Canolfan Brailsford is open to the wider community as well as students and staff.

Where can I swim in Gwynedd?

Byw'n Iach Bangor has two pools and diving boards, including the only 5 m diving platform in North Wales. Arfon in Caernarfon, Dwyfor in Pwllheli, Glaslyn in Porthmadog and Bro Ffestiniog all have 25 m pools, and Penllyn in Bala has a 20 m pool. Fitness First Bangor has a pool and steam room for members. Llyn Padarn at Llanberis has been a designated bathing water since 2014.

Where can I train outdoors for free in Gwynedd?

Penrhyn parkrun is held in the grounds of Penrhyn Castle every Saturday morning. Lôn Eifion runs 20 km traffic-free from Caernarfon to Bryncir, the Mawddach Trail follows an old railway for about 8 miles from Dolgellau towards Barmouth bridge, and Lôn Las Ogwen climbs 17.7 km from Porth Penrhyn to Llyn Ogwen. Then there's Yr Wyddfa, at 1,085 m the highest mountain in Wales.

How do I get to gyms in Gwynedd without a car?

Bangor station, on the North Wales Coast line, is the busiest station in North Wales and has a bus interchange for north-west Gwynedd and Anglesey. The Cambrian Coast line runs down the coast to Pwllheli, and the TrawsCymru T2 coach links Bangor with Aberystwyth. Lôn Las Cymru, National Cycle Route 8, passes through Porthmadog, Penygroes, Caernarfon and Bangor.

How do I find a gym buddy in Gwynedd?

Join Gymist free, add your gym and when you train, and browse members nearby. If there isn't a group for your kind of training yet, start one.

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